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Category: Solutions & Use Cases

  • 7 Easy Holiday Promotions for Small Businesses

    The holiday season has arrived! For millions of consumers that means preparing for family dinners, decorating homes, and of course, buying gifts for friends and loved ones. Is your small business ready to not just survive the holiday shopping season, but thrive in it?

    In this blog post, we’ll take a deep dive into current holiday shopping season data, and share seven easy holiday promotions for small businesses.

    Discover all of Star Micronics’ Retail Solutions.

    Holiday Shopping Season Data

    First, let’s explore just how much shoppers are spending on the holidays, what they’re purchasing, and where.

    According to the National Retail Federation’s winter holiday survey:

    • Holiday shoppers plan to spend 4% more this year
    • Consumers say they will spend an average of $1,048 this holiday season for items such as decorations, candy, gifts, and more
      • $659 is expected to be spent on gifts,
      • $227 is expected to be spent on non-holiday purchases, like food and decorations,
      • And $162 is slated to be spent on non-gift purchases for themselves and their families
    • Shoppers between the ages of 35 and 44 plan to spend the most at $1,158.63
    • 91% of consumers plan to celebrate the winter holidays this year
    • 73% plan to use their smartphone or tablet to research or make a purchase
    • 19% are early bird shoppers who started in September (or earlier!)
    • Women are significantly more likely than men to wish for gift cards (67% vs. 50%)
    • 48% of shoppers plan to leverage buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS)
    • Holiday sales are forecasted to grow between 3.8% and 4.2%
    • Holiday sales will increase to a total of between $727.9 billion and $730.7 billion this year, excluding automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants

    7 Easy Holiday Promotions for Small Businesses

    From Small Business Saturday to New Years, the Star team has taken it upon ourselves to provide easy, ready-to-use holiday promotions for small businesses to leverage – all you need is a Star Micronics receipt printer!

    With Star’s free, cloud-based marketing software, PromoPRNT, you can easily customize premade templates which print on the bottom of the receipt, sure to be seen by those who are holiday shopping (and those who plan to be in the near future). All you need to do is add your store name, and any other applicable information (a special product to promote, store hours, etc.) Promotions can be used to simply inform customers of an upcoming sale, or direct them to your website, social media accounts, and more.

    Learn more / register for PromoPRNT.

    The below templates for Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday, New Years, and a general winter sale are now available and ready for you to customize in PromoPRNT:

    Thanksgiving-Sale-e1574806555563

    Black-Friday-Sale-e1574806578100

    Small-Business-Saturday-e1574806600234

    Cyber-Monday-e1574806617697

    Giving-Tuesday-e1574806636160

    New-Year-Sale-e1574806651279

    Winter-Sale-e1574806671211



    Contact Star Integration Now

  • 5 Reasons Why You Need a Coffee Shop POS System

    5 Reasons Why You Need a Coffee Shop POS System

    Did you know that in the United States alone, nearly 70% of consumers drink at least two cups of coffee per day? That’s a lot of java to serve, and even more customers to provide with a fast, personalized (and profitable) experience. Luckily, managing all of those caffeinated purchases can become easier than you ever thought possible when you choose the right POS for coffee shop for your needs.

    Let’s explore 5 reasons why you need a coffee shop POS system – and some features to look for:

    1. Empower Staff to Keep the Line of Customers Moving Fast

    At the end of the day, providing your customers with what they need in a timely manner will make or break your business. To keep your customer queue moving quickly and efficiently, be sure to select a coffee shop POS system with a user-friendly interface to let your baristas take orders fast and without errors.

    What does that look like? It looks like a POS system that accepts all kinds of payments (including cash, mobile payments, credit and debit cards, reward points, and more).

    While the speed of each individual transaction may not seem that important at times when store foot traffic is low, the speed in which your coffee shop POS system processes payments makes a big difference during busy hours.

    2. Customers Can Customize Their Own Drink

    We live in the age of, “I’ll take a small iced coffee, 2 pumps of no-sugar caramel syrup, light on the soy milk, and a double shot.” That’s right, today’s customers want things their way, and we can’t blame them. What we can take some blame for, though, is misunderstanding those orders, wasting product, and losing money as well as the customer’s patience.

    But don’t worry – your coffee shop POS system can help with those complicated customized orders! If your POS app has a modifier feature, like for example, Poster POS, taking custom orders becomes easy for your baristas. It’s a win-win: give your customers their favorite drinks without delays, and accurately track inventory in your POS when customers order different milk alternatives and toppings.

    3. Make the Most of Your POS Using its Marketing Features

    A big part of creating coffee shop customers that keep coming back for more is by marketing to them. When there’s a choice between a coffee shop that has a special coupon/sale, or a coffee shop that only has set, standard prices, the customer will most likely choose the discounted cup of Joe.

    Create the customer retention you crave by setting up a unique happy hour promotion for each day right in your coffee shop POS system! These built-in deals allow your baristas apply discounts without any additional bother and can create more sales during traditionally slow hours. You can also let customers know about your special deals (and loyalty programs, social media accounts, and more) by promoting them on your receipt.

    4. Know and Sell Your Most Profitable Drinks and Desserts

    Without a feature-packed coffee shop POS system, it can be hard to answer questions like:

    • Which of my products has the highest profit margin?
    • Which of my items is the most expensive to make?
    • Which product is most popular? And during which days and times?

    You guessed it – you can use your POS system to answer all of these questions and more. Food costs and margins can be calculated automatically in your POS, as well as sales data which allows you to understand and analyze your top products. Use this valuable data to rotate items on your menu based on their profitability and popularity!

    5. Securely Store Your Business Data in the Cloud

    Last but not least, keep all that data safe and just a click away by choosing a cloud-based coffee shop POS system. Gone are the worries of your data being lost if your hardware breaks! And there’s an added benefit of working in the cloud: you’ll become a more flexible manager with access to your coffee shop management system from any computer and any place in the world.



    Star Has the Coffee Shop POS System Solutions You Need – Learn More Now!

  • What to Consider When Purchasing a Cash Drawer

    What to Consider When Purchasing a Cash Drawer

    To some, a cash drawer might just look like, well, a cash drawer. But when it comes to choosing a cash drawer as a business owner, cash drawers become a bit more complex. How will it fit in your space? Is it big enough to accommodate your day-to-day transactions? What kind of till do you need? The list of considerations goes on and on.

    Star is here to make the cash drawer selection process a bit more transparent and easier for you. Let’s explore the five key things to consider when purchasing a cash drawer:

    1. Connectivity

    First, let’s discuss connectivity options when it comes to cash drawers.

    The most common type of connectivity for cash drawers is a printer driven interface, which means the cash drawer is controlled through the printer’s DK port. The DK port, which stands for Drawer Kick, sends a 24V DC signal to open the cash drawer and is used in the majority of cash drawers.

    Another way to open a cash drawer is quite obvious: manually with a key. Most cash drawers have both DK port connectivity, and manual key access.

    Lastly, there are also wireless cash functions controlled by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. These cash drawers are not as common, and tend to be more expensive.

    2. Size and Style

    The next topic to consider is one of the most important: how big of a cash drawer do you need, and what kind of cash drawer should you choose to match the look and feel of your counterspace and other POS components?

    On the market, there are normally two different sizes for cash drawers: a smaller option (typical 13” x 13”) and a larger option (typically 16” x 16” and larger). When choosing a cash drawer size, be sure to keep in mind considerations such as if you have items (like a keyboard) that needs to fit on top of the drawer, or if the drawer needs to be a specific height to fit under a counter.

    You may also choose a cash drawer color to match the other parts of your POS. For example, if you have a white receipt printer and white tablet-based POS/stand, choosing a white cash drawer will help provide a sleek look to your counter.

    How Star Can Help

    Even though each store is unique, balancing cash drawers is one thing every store has in common. Star Micronics offers the tools you need to make balancing your cash drawer as simple and painless as possible. For more information on the solutions we offer, contact Star Micronics today!



    Star’s Cash Drawer Solutions

    3. Cash Flow

    Next on your list of considerations is cash flow. What kind of currency do you accept? Do you accept a lot of physical coupons? What about checks?

    Cash drawer tills (the part of the cash drawer that holds the money) come in several different sizes and bill/coin layouts. Some tils have room for the US standard (five bill and four coins). Other tills come with room for more coins or more bills depending on if larger, higher value bills, such as $50 and $100, are accepted. There are also available tills for Canadian and Latin American currencies.

    Handle a lot of coupons, checks, and higher value bills? Be sure to choose a cash drawer with media slots, or slots on the front that feed into a hidden space underneath the till, to securely store these items.

    4. Durability

    Next on the list of considerations (and something that is very important) is durability.

    What type of material is the drawer made of? Is it made of steel, or a different material? Cash drawers like Star’s, which are made of steel, are highly durable which not only makes your investment more worthwhile, but is also a security feature.

    Another thing to consider is how many cash drawer opens is included in the product’s warranty? Be sure to choose a warranty that includes at least 1 million opens.

    5. Security

    Last but certainly not least on your list of considerations should be security. There are a few different security options to look for:

    • An additional lock that secures the drawer itself to the counter.
    • A locking till cover, so when you need to take the till to the back office at closing time, cash can’t be stolen during transport.
    • A universal key, so that cash drawers are easier to open in a rush and during an emergency there is no need to look through a huge key ring for the correct key.
    • A manual release options, so you can open the cash drawer no matter what. Manual release is quicker than waiting for a Bluetooth signal and even faster than some DK port signals.

    Meet Star’s Cash Drawers

    Cash-Drawers-Stacked-TW

    With three lines of cash drawers with a variety of features and price points, Star Micronics is proud to offer cash drawers for any budget or application. Learn more about each series below:

    • Value Series: The Value Series includes cost-effective cash drawers that integrate seamlessly into any retail or hospitality environment with a standard printer communication interface and bottom exit cable, hidden from the customer’s view. The cash drawers also feature four lock functions: locked, closed, online (opens electronically), manual open, and locked open.
    • Choice Series: Choice Series cash drawers include features businesses already know and love, but with added features such as extra strength to support touch tablets and POS terminals, a secure dual-drawer cable to enable the Choice Series to work as either cash drawer 1 or cash drawer 2, a foldable hinged key which minimizes the possibility of breaking off in the lock, and over 10 different lock set options for added security.
    • Max Series: Max Series cash drawers are the premier choice for retailers. Featuring durable, high quality drawers with Kensington lock compatibility and sleek Star branding, the cash drawers are designed to securely manage cash while delivering professional looks. The cash drawers also feature four lock functions: locked, closed, online (opens electronically), manual open, and locked open.

    Explore all of the cash drawers now.



    Cash Drawers

  • Star Micronics Launches the Reliable, Stylish, and Cost-Effective mCP30 POS Printer

    Star Micronics Launches the Reliable, Stylish, and Cost-Effective mCP30 POS Printer

    Affordable and equipped with must-have features

    Somerset, NJ – Oct 21, 2019 – Star Micronics, a leading global manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is excited to announce the debut of the mCP30 POS printer, the latest addition to the mC-Print3 family.

    This high-quality and cost-effective printer features the reliability Star Micronics products are known for, and is a simpler edition to the mC-Print3 family. With the removal of the USB hub which other mC-Print models include, the mCP30 simplifies the user experience for small- to medium-sized restaurant and retail operations without compromising on power, speed, or sophistication.

    The mCP30 is still equipped with a stylish, front-loading design, Print Flat Technology, and a variety of connectivity options, including USB, LAN, and CloudPRNT/WebPRNT, making the printer perfect for any application.

    With a compact design, the mCP30 works well in any environment where space is limited. It is easy to integrate through the StarPRNT SDK, and is compatible with Star Micronics Cloud Services.

    “When designing the mCP30, we leveraged feedback from our end user customers and ISV partners to create an affordable printer,” says Jon Levin, Product Integration Manager at Star Micronics. “This new, well-appointed printer features the connectivity options businesses need – at an affordable price.”

  • Receipt Marketing: How to Unleash the Power of Your Receipt

    Receipt Marketing: How to Unleash the Power of Your Receipt

    This is the third part of “Keep the Receipt,” a five-part blog series about the various advantages paper receipts offer to businesses and consumers, and why you should elect to choose to offer – and accept – paper receipts.

    Ah, the receipt. Billions of transactions are made each day, and countless receipts are printed. But receipts can do so much more than provide transaction information – they can also be used for marketing, and today on the blog we’re going to share with you why receipt marketing is relevant, what benefits it can offer to retailers, and how to get started with your very own receipt marketing. Read on!

    Paper Promotions are (Still) King

    If you’re looking to communicate promotion messaging to your shoppers, look no further than the paper receipt. Yes, it’s true: even in the digital age, paper promotions are (still) king!

    Did you know:

    • 88% of all consumers use paper coupons
    • 48% of consumers look for print coupons on a weekly basis
    • 2/3 of milliennials look to paper coupons for offers to save money
    • 90% of affluent shoppers use coupons
    • 85% of consumers look for coupons prior to visiting a retailer
    • 71% of consumers said they would use a featured coupon code from a print advertisement to buy online

    …and the list goes on and on! Check out our coupon infographic to learn more.

    And guess what? Coupons are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to things you can promote via receipt. Keep reading to learn about other ways to leverage receipt marketing.

    Receipt Marketing Enables Retailers to:

    Provide Promotions to 100% of (High Quality) Customers

    Ensuring your marketing communications reach the correct recipients is very important, and receipt marketing can help you do just that.

    As we mentioned in our previous Keep the Receipt blog post, according to Pew Research, 19% of Americans don’t own a smartphone. By delivering printed promotions, you avoid inadvertently bypassing a large demographic of potential customers.

    Another benefit of providing printed promotions is that your messaging is sure to reach high-quality customers. Unlike other marketing channels where you’re lucky to reach valuable leads, by presenting printed promotions to your customers at the point of purchase, you’re not just nurturing a lead, but boosting customer retention. This is of utmost importance in a world where most items can be found in multiple stores, and shoppers can be tempted to spend their dollars elsewhere.

    Download for Free! The Value of Receipts: Physical and Digital.

    Experience Higher Return on Investment (ROI)

    Marketing can get expensive – really expensive. Direct mail can cost between 30 cents to over $10 per person, while social media ads can cost several dollars per ad click! It’s easy to see how the cost of advertising can get out of hand, even for a small business.

    On the other hand, when you leverage receipt marketing with Star printers/paper, it costs only $1.50 … per thousand receipts/promotions! And let’s not forget, those printed promotions are ending up in the hands of shoppers already in your store, who are likely more liable to return to the store than a brand-new prospect from a direct mail campaign.

    Onboard Customers to Other Marketing InitiativesLoyalty-Program-PromoPRNT-e1574805918143

    So maybe at this point you’re still not on board with receipt marketing. You want to direct traffic to digital platforms like your social media account, loyalty program, or online review website. Well, receipt marketing can help with that, too.

    Take, for example, loyalty programs: they’re great for retaining customers by offering special, personalized rewards. But how do you get your shoppers to sign up for your program in the first place? Sending an email about it will likely end up unopened in their junk/promotions email folder. Posting on social media about it might get you a few likes, but chances are it’ll largely go unnoticed.

    By placing a QR code on your receipt promotions, you can have your cashier inform the shopper face-to-face about your loyalty program, and let them know all they need to do is simply scan the code on the receipt to sign up – no extra clicks or navigation necessary. Receipt marketing can act as a great bridge between a brick-and-mortar environment and the added digital benefits consumers want.

    Directly Request Feedback from CustomersOnline-Review-PromoPRNT-e1574805955994

    Customer feedback is worth its weight in gold. But unfortunately, many times consumers aren’t motivated to leave a review unless they are feeling disgruntled. Change that with receipt marketing! By using tools like Star’s Customer Survey, you can provide “instant” customer satisfaction surveys in conjunction with AllReceiptsTM digital receipts.

    Similar to what we discussed earlier in this blog post, you can also use your receipt and a simple, easy-to-use QR code to guide customers to an online review website.

    How to Get Started with Receipt Marketing

    Okay, so everything above sounds great, but how do you get started? It’s very simple if you are using a Star printer!

    With PromoPRNT, Star’s value-added receipt marketing tool, you can customize promotions from templates that print directly on the bottom of your receipts. And because the tool is cloud-based, you can create, schedule, and manage promotions from anywhere.

    Click here to learn more about PromoPRNT and register today.

  • Star Micronics Introduces Feature-Packed Second Generation of SK1 Kiosk Printers

    Star Micronics Introduces Feature-Packed Second Generation of SK1 Kiosk Printers

    Featuring StarPRNT emulation, higher reliability, and improved performance

    Somerset, NJ – Oct. 10, 2019 – Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is excited to announce a new generation of its SK1 kiosk printers, the SK1-211 and SK1-311.

    The SK1-211 and SK1-311 will ship standard with StarPRNT emulation, which will allow software developers to take advantage of the full stack of Star Micronics technology, such as the StarPRNT SDKs and Star’s powerful line of drivers. Software developers that have already integrated Star products can now easily swap or extend their applications from a desktop printer to a kiosk printer. ESC/POS is still available for legacy integration.

    When used with Windows drivers, StarPRNT emulation also enables developers to take advantage of PromoPRNT, Star Micronics’ cloud-based marketing tool which allows for custom-designed promotions to print on the bottom of receipts.

    The new generation of kiosk printers will also have a longer paper cutter life (2 million cuts), a faster printing speed (250 millimeters per second), and easy paper loading via a thermal head open function.

    New options will be offered for the SK1-211 and SK1-311, including an LED presenter and anti-paper jam bezel, in addition to current options including a bezel, LED bezel, presenter, and larger paper roll holder.

    Featuring the same outer dimensions and variety of install positions as the SK1-21 and SK1-31, the new generation of kiosk printers will have USB and serial default interfaces, and a small, compact, and lightweight footprint.

    “We’re very eager for this new generation of kiosk printers to streamline point of sale environments,” said Christophe Naasz, Director of Business Development at Star Micronics. “Not only are these new products faster and more reliable, the addition of our modern StarPRNT emulation will allow easy integration of kiosk solutions into any environment already featuring Star printers.”

  • Halloween Spending: How Much Do Consumers Spend?

    Halloween Spending: How Much Do Consumers Spend?

    It’s unmistakable: the leaves are turning, spooky décor is popping up in front yards, and you can’t seem to avoid retail displays piled high with bags of candy. That’s right, it’s almost Halloween!

    You have probably done some Halloween marketing for your retail store (or your retail customer’s store) in the past, but have you ever wondered just how popular the holiday really is? How much do consumers spend, and on which products? An even better question is, how do you go about promoting your Halloween message and doing your best to ensure you won’t be “ghosted” by shoppers?

    Let’s take a look at Halloween spending this year – here are some fascinating Halloween spending statistics from the National Retail Federation (NRF):

    • Shoppers say they will spend an average of $86.27 this Halloween
    • 35% cite online search as the top source of inspiration
    • 29 million people plan to dress their pets in costume
    • 68% plan to celebrate Halloween this year
    • Top spending categories are as follows:
      • $3.2 billion on costumes
      • $2.6 billion on candy
      • $390 million on greeting cards
    • 69% of consumers hand out candy
    • 49% decorate their home
    • 44% carve a pumpkin
    • 32% throw or attend a Halloween party
    • 29% take their children trick-or-treating
    • 22% visit a haunted house
    • 37% planned to start Halloween shopping before October

    How to Take Advantage of All That Halloween Spending

    Halloween will get a lot spookier if you don’t take advantage of all the holiday has to offer for your retail store (or for your retail customers)!

    To help grow sales and customer engagement this Halloween, Star has made it easier than ever to promote ghoulishly good sales and product lines. With PromoPRNT, retailers (or those acting on their behalf) can create custom promotions that print directly on the bottom of the receipt. These promotions can serve as a coupon, funnel shoppers toward an e-commerce site, and more.

    Learn more about PromoPRNT

    To get you started, the Star team has created the following Halloween templates, which are now available in the PromoPRNT Promotion Builder dashboard:



    PromoPRNT

  • How a Paper Receipt Benefits ROI and the Customer Experience

    How a Paper Receipt Benefits ROI and the Customer Experience

    This is the second part of “Keep the Receipt,” a five-part blog series about the various advantages paper receipts offer to businesses and consumers, and why you should elect to choose to offer – and accept – paper receipts.

    Welcome to the next part of our Keep the Receipt blog series, where we’ll explore the ways that a paper receipt benefits a business’s return on investment (ROI), as well as its customer experience. During a time when options abound for consumers when it comes to retailers and restaurants, it’s important to not only boost cost efficiency, but also optimize the experience customers have from the moment they enter the door, up until the transaction is completed. Read on to discover how paper receipts can help you achieve all of that – and more.

    Paper Receipt Benefits | Return on Investment

    At the end of the day, businesses need to communicate with shoppers to inform them of transaction details, promotions, return policies, and more. That need is not going away, so the question becomes, what’s the most effective and cost-efficient way to share that necessary information?

    Email services can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars a year, while direct mail can cost nearly $1.00 per piece! Receipts, on the other hand, are extremely cost-effective. Printing 1,000 receipts costs only approximately $1.50 – that’s just $0.0015 per receipt!

    With a laundry list of expenses including rent, utilities, wages, POS hardware, commerce software, payment processing, and more, saving on regular expenses like receipts and marketing communications can make a big difference for businesses of all sizes.

    The receipt is also a very cost-efficient and effective marketing medium. Don’t miss our next Keep the Receipt blog post, where we’ll explore marketing advantages of paper receipts.

    Another less obvious way that receipts boost ROI is by increasing the efficiency of the checkout process. When a business chooses to offer paper receipts, no customer contact information needs to be collected at the point of purchase, meaning the transaction can completed in mere seconds. Speeding up long lines and serving more customers, faster? Sounds like a win to us!

    Paper Receipt Benefits | A Smoother Customer Experience

    Simply put, if you don’t provide your customers with a positive experience, chances are they will begin to spend their money elsewhere. While building an optimal customer experience is a multifaceted endeavor, offering paper receipts is an easy way to help create a more reliable, comfortable experience for shoppers. Here are three major reasons why:

    • No Need for a Digital Device: Smartphones are great, but putting all your eggs in one basket and only offering digital POS services can be problematic. For starters, according to Pew Research, 19% of Americans don’t own a smartphone. Offering paper receipts is a surefire way to navigate that digital divide and avoid leaving out a significant portion of the population.
    • Fewer Junk Emails: A whopping 281 billion emails were sent and received worldwide per day in 2018. And while 99% of consumers check their mail every day, that doesn’t mean they open every single one of the emails they receive, especially when it comes to retail emails. That being said, it’s becoming increasingly easy for consumers to misplace their digital receipts, which can cause a headache when going to return or exchange an item, budget the purchase, and more.
    • A Consistent, Reliable Format: Having a smartphone doesn’t necessarily mean a smooth digital experience: retail stores are built of concrete, brick, and steel, which can block signals and create wireless dead zones. For customers, this poor wireless service can mean difficulty retrieving promotions, proof of purchase, return policies, and more. And even in the midst of a digital transformation, consumers are used to receiving a paper receipt. There’s no question of where to find transaction, promotion, and return policy information when it’s all on a printed receipt safely tucked away in a wallet, not lost in an email inbox. Avoid all of the digital risk by choosing paper receipts (which can include promotions)!

    Are you a business owner? Do you find paper receipts valuable, even in a digital age? Let us know in the comments!

    Be sure to tune into our future Keep the Receipt blogs, which will take a deep dive into even more topics like marketing advantages, bookkeeping/informational benefits, and sustainable features of Star receipts.



    Download our FREE eBook, “The Value of Receipts: Printed and Digital,” now!

  • Long Live the Coupon [Infographic]

    Long Live the Coupon [Infographic]

    Retail trends come and go, but what’s one thing that’s consistently popular with consumers? Coupons!

    In a nutshell, coupons are powerful because they entice shoppers of all types to buy. While everyone loves a good deal, you might be surprised to know that a whopping 90% of affluent customers use coupons – they’re not just for those on a strict budget! And coupons are popular across industries, from retail to restaurants, and everything in between.

    Learn more about the enduring prevalence of the paper coupon in our coupon infographic below:

    Coupon-Infographic

    Discover Why You Shouldn’t Underestimate Coupons as a Promotional Tool



    Download eBook

  • Small Business Fall Marketing Ideas to Boost Sales

    Small Business Fall Marketing Ideas to Boost Sales

    Grab your sweater and pumpkin spice latte, because fall is in the air! Consumers love fall-related products and events, and who can blame them? The season’s crisp, sunny days are perfect for fall festivals, apple picking, and munching (and sipping) away on cozy treats.

    But just how popular is fall? Hint: VERY, and whether you own a small business or resell point of sale solutions to small businesses, you should absolutely pay attention to the season’s trends. Below is some information to demonstrate just how prevalent fall-related items and events are (even before fall even begins):

    • In 2017, pumpkin-flavored product sales represented approximately $286 million in the United States alone.
    • Furthermore, there is a Facebook group dedicated to the return of the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte – with over 34,000 members!
    • Seasonal beers – including pumpkin beer – represents about 16% of total craft beer sales.
    • According to Ted Roumanis from brand development and qualitative market research firm Positive, fall marketing can start well before fall: “Yes, we’re in the middle of summer, but there hasn’t really been anything to talk about from a seasonal marketing perspective since July 4th and Memorial Day.”
    • And one popular junk food-focused Instagram influencer says, “It feels like fall seasonal products appear earlier and earlier each year because there is no official start date to the season. With winter seasonal products, for example, there is a hard start date the day after Halloween. While fall officially starts in late September, there is a large gap between when summer seasonal products debut (around May) and the official start of fall, so companies fill that gap by offering fall products earlier.”

    Get Started with Fall Marketing

    So now you know how much your customers crave all things fall, how can you start marketing in that space? Lucky for you, it’s incredibly easy!

    Whether you’re featuring a special fall sale, pumpkin-related anything, or a fun-packed autumnal event, you can promote all of it – for free – using a Star receipt printer!  With PromoPRNT, you can build custom promotions from templates that are featured right on the bottom of receipts, where shoppers are sure to see them.

    Click here to learn more or sign up for PromoPRNT.

    To get you started with your fall marketing, we have created the below templates that are now available for customization in PromoPRNT:

    Fall-Sale-e1574806154745

    Pumpkin-Spice-e1574806171645

    Fall-Festival-e1574806189579

    Looking for some more fall inspiration for your PromoPRNT designs? Here are some additional fall marketing ideas from Square:

    • Launch an Instagram photo contest
    • Hold a special sale where shoppers receive a discount when bringing in canned and other non-perishable food items to donate to a food pantry
    • Attend a fall festival as a vendor
    • Celebrate new holidays (in addition to Pumpkin Spice Appreciation Day featured above), like “Sweater Weather Saturday”



    PromoPRNT